Sri Lanka’s president said his government was under “no compulsion” to implement a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution calling for an internationalised accountability mechanism, as he addressed a gathering of Sri Lankan soldiers on Monday. The official Ministry of Defence website quoted Maithripala Sirisena as telling the soldiers “it is his duty and responsibility to protect war heroes who fought to bring freedom to the country”. Calling the UN resolution a set of “proposals”, Mr Sirisena added that his government would follow them only to clear “allegations” that loomed over Sri...
China's bank is to establish its South Asian branch in Sri Lanka the country's prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, told parliament on Tuesday. “China agreed to set up the branch here in Colombo at the proposed financial city,” Mr Wickremesinghe was quoted by the LBO as saying. “We expect to have discussions about the proposal with China," he said, adding that the proposals could be released before the end of this year.
Sri Lanka's Speaker, Karu Jayasuriya, signed the Office on Missing Persons Bill on Tuesday, making it into a legal act, Colombo Page reported. The bill has received criticism from Tamil families who expressed concern about the lack of adequate consultation prior and lack of emphasis over justice for disappearances. Sri Lanka's joint opposition movement has meanwhile vehemently opposed the bill, accusing the government of betraying the country's soldiers.
Muslim and Tamil students at the University of Peradeniya were attacked by Sinhala students on Monday night. The group, made up of 15 Tamil students and one Muslim student were set upon by a gang of Sinhala youths as they made their way back from a Hindu temple and a mosque. Female students in the group were told to leave the scene by the gang before they assaulted the Tamil-speakers with clubs. One Muslim student reportedly suffered a serious head wound, alongside five others who were seriously injured in the attack. Meanwhile Adaderana reported the president of the students’ union at the...
A protest march was held in Kilinochchi on Monday, demanding justice for the thousands of disappeared Tamils and an end to the creation of Sinhala-Buddhist settlements in the Tamil homeland. Demonstrators began their rally at the Umayalpuram Amman temple, where they smashed coconuts on the ground, before proceeding towards Kilinochchi town. Protesters held placards calling for the release of political prisoners and slamming the building of Buddhist statues on traditionally Tamil land. “'Good governance or diabolic governance?," read one placard. “We want our lands back,” was emblazoned on...
A group of Tamil women called for a quota for female politicians to be instituted during consultations by the Jaffna Zonal Task Force of the Consultation Task Force earlier this month. At the consultation which happened at the Jaffna Kachcheri on August 5, a group of Tamil women including a local TNA village councillor and the Women's Society President, expressed frustration at the lack of political space given to women by both the TNA and the NPC. They stated that there are many Tamil women ready to join politics but Tamil political parties must do more to bring women into their parties. The...
The Sri Lankan president was left waiting in his car whilst on a trip to Tirumala on Sunday, in what has been described as a major lapse in his security. Maithripala Sirisena was on a visit to a temple in the city, when an apparent lack of communication left the Sri Lankan head of state waiting for 12 minutes in his car, waiting for his driver to arrive. Mr Sirisena and his wife sat inside the vehicle, as security stood on guard and staffers searched for the driver. According to the New Indian Express “ the driver coolly returned ” having spent his own time inside the temple, conducting his...
The proposal by a Sri Lankan presidential commission for “accountable amnesties” for those guilty of violating international humanitarian law is “not a real way forward” said James Ross, Legal and Policy Director at Human Rights Watch. Mr Ross said the idea of “accountable amnesties” for such grave crimes was an oxymoron, as he criticised the commission’s recommendations of running contrary to an earlier UN Human Rights Council resolution, co-sponsored by Sri Lanka. “Were the Sri Lankan government to adopt this approach, a military commander or government official may be able to buy their way...
Sri Lanka's Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade said the foreign ministry was fully aware of the hiring of a US lobby firm to help the government's international ties. Malik Samarawickrema said he had received Sri Lankan cabinet approval for the move, which is costing the government some $30,000 a month. The Sunday Times reported that the firm, Travis and Rosenberg (ST&R), has been hired "to educate officials on a non-existent peace process, increase economic ties and market access". Colombo had received proposals from two different US-based firms said the minister...
A Muslim businessman was reported missing on Sunday after reports that he had recently complained to the CID about frauds committing by other business people amounting to Rs 70 million, the Daily Mirror reported. The 29 year old man, named as Mohammed Sakeem Sulaiman was reported missing by his family. Bambalapitiya police have launched an investigation into his disappearance.